Share with us your personal experiences of working in the informal economy. What have been the benefits and the challenges?

•Precious, 26, from Nigeria said that although she does not have personal experience working in the informal sector, she does work with youth both in school and out of school who do have such experience. “Some youth are doing well, depending on their location and the amount of resources invested in the business they are working in. While for others the benefits they acquire are helping them build their own skills.” Precious went on to say:

“Some of the challenges they are facing include:

1.) For one domestic worker, lack of trust by the owner (of the place), which hinders a proper relationship.

2.) Lack of funds to equip the informal [business], thereby making the work hectic and cumbersome.

3.) Over-use [exploitation] of youth working in this area, because there are few benefits.

4.) For street vendors, one of the major challenges is the […risk of falling] sick, because of the working environment [and the lack of safeguards].”

•Lody, 25, from Cambodia reminded us of the gender inequalities that persist, commenting that: “Young women are doubly affected as they face not only lack of opportunities, but poor quality of work, especially in the informal [sector] – characterized by low wages, less secure employment, and [often limited] representation.”

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Vote Corner

If you were the Chief Executive of a large foundation, where would you spend your money in order to increase and improve youth employment, both within and beyond your organization?

The top three recommendations selected from the e-discussion platform and voted on by participants on the International Year of the Youth Facebook page were:

Open up vocational training institutes for both rural and urban youth (64 per cent of votes)

Focus on empowering youth through small grants (19 per cent of votes)

Sponsor secondary education for marginalized young people (17 per cent of votes)

The UN Focal Point on Youth aims to build awareness of the global situation of young people, as well as promote their rights and aspirations, working toward greater participation of young people in decision-making as a means for achieving peace and development.